TCM Schedule for Friday, March 23 -- Star of the Month -- Doris Day

[Staph]

Today we've got four films starring Kay Francis, five starring Edward G. Robinson, and one that features both. And in the evening, TCM is finishing their week with Doris Day, with a trio of biopics featuring Doris playing a singer. Enjoy!



6:00 AM -- A Notorious Affair (1930)
A beautiful noblewoman gives up wealth and society for love of a two-timing musician.
Dir: Lloyd Bacon
Cast: Billie Dove, Basil Rathbone, Kay Francis
67 min, TV-G

The play, Fame, by Audrey Carter and Waverly Carter, originally opened in London, England, in March, 1929.


7:15 AM -- Guilty Hands (1931)
A district attorney tries to frame an innocent girl for the murder he committed.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke
Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Kay Francis, Madge Evans
69 min, TV-PG

Screenplay by Bayard Veiller, prolific Broadway writer/producer/director from the 1900s through the 1930s.


8:30 AM -- Transgression (1931)
When her lover is killed, a straying wife tries to intercept the confession she mailed her husband.
Dir: Herbert Brenon
Cast: Kay Francis, Paul Cavanagh, Ricardo Cortez
70 min, TV-PG

Remake of The Next Corner (1924), also starring Ricardo Cortez, in what appears to be the same role with a different character name.


9:45 AM -- Jewel Robbery (1932)
A jewel thief falls for a tycoon's wife in Vienna.
Dir: William Dieterle
Cast: William Powell, Kay Francis, Helen Vinson
68 min, TV-G, CC

Based on the Hungarian play Ekszerrablás a Váci-uccában by Ladislas Fodor (copyrighted 26 Aug 1931) and on the following Broadway production: Jewel Robbery (1932); Comedy, adapted by Bertram Bloch; directed and produced by Paul Streger. Booth Theatre: 13 Jan 1932- Feb 1932 (closing date unknown/54 performances). Cast: Lionel Braham (as "Lenz&quot , Stuart Casey, Clarence Derwent (as "Franz&quot , Mary Ellis, Harold Johnsrud, Hazel Nagley, Eugene Powers, Frederick Roland, Louis M. Simon, Basil Sydney, Robert Vivian, Cora Witherspoon (as "Marianne&quot .


11:00 AM -- I Loved A Woman (1933)
A Chicago meat-packer tries to keep a rein on his social-climbing wife.
Dir: Alfred E. Green
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Kay Francis, Genevieve Tobin
91 min, TV-G, CC

Although a novel by David Karsner is credited onscreen as the source, none has been located; it may not have been published.


12:45 PM -- The Man With Two Faces (1934)
An actor uses his skills to protect his sister from her sinister husband.
Dir: Archie Mayo
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Mary Astor, Ricardo Cortez
73 min, TV-PG, CC

One of the photos in producer Ricardo Cortez's office is that of character comedian Edward Everett Horton.


2:00 PM -- The Whole Town's Talking (1935)
A gangster hides from the law by trading places with a mild-mannered double.
Dir: John Ford
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Jean Arthur, Arthur Hohl
92 min, TV-G, CC

This movie is the inspiration for 1998 Bollywood movie 'Duplicate' starring Shahrukh Khan in the double role.


3:45 PM -- The Last Gangster (1937)
When a notorious gangster gets out of prison, he vows revenge on the wife who left him.
Dir: Edward Ludwig
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, James Stewart, Rose Stradner
81 min, TV-G, CC

Luise Rainer was initially set to star.


5:15 PM -- The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938)
A doctor plots crimes so he can study criminal psychology.
Dir: Anatole Litvak
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor, Humphrey Bogart
87 min, TV-PG, CC

Ralph Richardson played the role successfully in London, and subsequently Cedric Hardwicke did the same in New York. Nearly all of the characters' names are changed from the original play on which the film is based.


6:45 PM -- Big Leaguer (1953)
An aging ballplayer is relegated to managing a training camp.
Dir: Robert Aldrich
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Vera-Ellen, Jeff Richards
71 min, TV-G, CC

Of Vera-Ellen's 14 films released between 1945 and 1957, this was her only movie not to showcase her dancing and also not to receive a contemporary New York Times review. Moreover, this picture was her second and last to be shot in black and white. Her previous monochromatic appearance was in The Marx Brothers frolic Love Happy, a semi-musical.



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: STAR OF THE MONTH: DORIS DAY



8:00 PM -- Love Me Or Leave Me (1955)
True story of torch singer Ruth Etting's struggle to escape the gangster who made her a star.
Dir: Charles Vidor
Cast: Doris Day, James Cagney, Cameron Mitchell
C- 122 min, TV-PG, CC

Won an Oscar for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story -- Daniel Fuchs

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- James Cagney, Best Music, Original Song -- Nicholas Brodszky (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) for the song "I'll Never Stop Loving You", Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Percy Faith and George Stoll, Best Sound, Recording -- Wesley C. Miller (M-G-M), and Best Writing, Screenplay -- Daniel Fuchs and Isobel Lennart

After this film was released, Doris Day was deluged with mail from fans attacking her, a Christian Scientist, for playing a lewd woman who smoked, drank, and wore scant costumes in the nightclub scenes. Day cared about everyone who was disturbed by her characterization, and she answered every piece of mail, explaining the necessity for realism, and that it was essential to separate actress Doris Day from character Ruth Etting. She felt that as a performer, she had the same responsibility to the public that a politician has to the electorate.


10:15 PM -- Young Man With a Horn (1950)
A young trumpet player is torn between an honest singer and a manipulative heiress.
Dir: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, Doris Day
112 min, TV-PG, CC

Even while married to pinup-girl Betty Grable, Harry James was notorious for his womanizing. Peter Levinson, in his biography of James ("Trumpet Blues&quot notes that during the filming of this movie, James contacted Doris Day's manager to ask what he thought were James' chances of "nailing" Doris.


12:15 AM -- I'll See You in My Dreams (1951)
Songwriter Gus Kahn fights to make his name, then has to fight again to survive the Depression.
Dir: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Doris Day, Danny Thomas, Frank Lovejoy
110 min, TV-G, CC

Doris Day and Danny Thomas recorded a Columbia 10-inch LP featuring eight film songs which climbed to number one on the "Billboard" pop albums chart.


2:15 AM -- The Gamma People (1956)
A mad scientist uses gamma rays to turn the country's youth into either geniuses or subhumans at the bidding of an equally mad dictator.
Dir: John Gilling
Cast: Paul Douglas, Eva Bartok, Leslie Phillips
79 min, TV-PG

Based on a story by director Robert Aldrich.


3:45 AM -- Wild, Wild Planet (1965)
Space amazons control the Earth by shrinking its leaders.
Dir: Anthony Dawson
Cast: Tony Russel, Lisa Gastoni, Massimo Serato
C- 94 min, TV-14, CC

While filming, a crack in the pool while filled with "blood" originated a leak, so people in the Italian neighborhood suddenly saw blood-like red-colored water coming out from their taps.


5:30 AM -- Use Your Eyes (1970)
13 min, TV-14


5:45 AM -- The Enchanted Pot (1962)
15 min, TV-G

No, it's not what you think. It's a surreal musical Karo corn syrup ad from the 60s.